Chateau has a long history in Bordeaux dating back to the 16th century, when it was referred to as Domaine de Pez. The name change to what we know of today took place after the French Revolution. The inspiration for the name change to Chateau Les Ormes de Pez came about quite easily.

The first part of the name, Ormes, when translated from French to English means Elms, a type of tree that at one point in time was a part of the estate’s landscape. The remainder of the name comes from the local village of Pez, where the property is located.

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez belongs to the Cazes family who also own Chateau Lynch Bages, which is located in Pauillac. Chateau Ormes de Pez, like most Bordeaux vineyards has a long history with numerous owners. Some of the previous well-known owners who possessed the Medoc estate prior to the Cazes family include Marcel Alibert who also owned Chateau Belgrave in the Haut Medoc appellation. In 1940, Les Ormes de Pez was purchased by Jean Charles Cazes.

At the time of the purchase, Chateau Les Ormes de Pez was already quite, well-known to the Cazes family. That is because the sister of Jean Charles Cazes had worked at the estate.

Today, Chateau Les Ormes de Pez remains in the hands of the Cazes family, who are well known from their more famous Pauillac estate, Chateau Lynch Bages. The Cazes family also own an estate in the Graves region, Chateau Villa Bel Air, as well as Domaine des Senechaux in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation.

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez enjoyed a renovation of its wine making facilities in 1993. Due to the high level of quality here, and its association with the Cazes family which as you know owns Lynch Bages, Ormes de Pez remains one of the most popular, and expensive Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux wines.

The 40 hectare vineyard of Chateau Les Ormes de Pez is planted to 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. This shows a marked increase in the amount of Merlot in the vineyard, which previously had a lot more Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This has clearly helped add more softness and richness to the wine.

The terroir has 3 different types of soil with gravel, clay and sand. On average, the vines are kept at 30 years of age. The Saint Estephe vineyard is planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare.

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez Wine Making

To produce the wine of Chateau Les Ormes de Pez, the wine is vinified in temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel and vat, with 30% of the harvest going through malolactic fermentation in vat. The wine of Les Ormes de Pez is aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for close to 15 months.

Older vintages of Chateau Les Ormes de Pez used much less new oak. In fact, prior to 2000, the wine was on average aged in about 10% new, French oak barrels. The increase in the amount of new oak barrels used during the aging process has added more richness to the wine.

When to Drink Chateau Les Ormes de Pez, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez can be enjoyed young. However, the wine is often better with at least a few years of bottle age. Of course that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage.

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez is usually best enjoyed in the first 10-20 years after the vintage. Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez is made by the same team that produces Chateau Lynch Bages. On average, close to 18,000 cases are produced every year.

Serving Chateau Les Ormes de Pez with the Best Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Les Ormes de Pez is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed and grilled dishes. Les Ormes de Pez also pairs well with several different Asian dishes.

Château Les Ormes de Pez Wine Tasting Notes

18 Vintages 146,578 ViewsSort by Vintage-Rating

2018

Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estèphe)

93

Spicy blackberries, gravel, tree-leaf and cedar are on the nose. From there, just one sip and you know this is the finest Ormes de Pez ever produced. There is volume, sweetness to the fruits, persistence and energy in the fruity finish. The wine was made from 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, reaching 14.6% alcohol. 92-94 Pts

1,450 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019

Spicy and grounded with fertile soil and the reddest of fruit, here you’ll find cedar, tobacco and blackberries. Timelessly crisp, fresh and lively with herbs, olive and pepper on the palate and in the finish, this wine is 51% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvi

2,607 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018

Loads of crushed rocks, fresh, bright red fruits and ripe, soft tannins. The wine had depth, length and the ability to age, leaving with you a blast of sweet, juicy, dark red fruit in the finish. This is clearly the best vintage yet for Les Ormes de Pez.

1,601 Views Tasted Feb 9, 2019

Indonesian tobacco, finely crushed gravel, herbs and spices and black currants covered in crème de cassis, this year’s wine is softer and livelier than in the past. Add ripe tannins and a fruity finish and promise yourself a second date. This medium-bodied wine was produced from 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

4,919 Views Tasted Apr 29, 201791

2015

Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estèphe)

85

Between medium bodied, to light, there is a distinctive leaf and herbal note to the crisp red fruits, espresso and dusty tannins in the finish.

3,667 Views Tasted Jan 31, 2017

Cassis and earthy notes blend perfectly with the spicy, red fruits, bringing a shiny freshness to the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. 89-91 Pts

3,118 Views Tasted Apr 13, 201590

2013

Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estèphe)

86

From a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine is forward, medium bodied, finishes with a crisp, spicy, red berry notes, coupled with a kiss of oak.

4,057 Views Tasted Mar 11, 2015

With 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 8% Caberent Franc and 2% Petit Verdot in the blend, the wine will be aged in 45% new French oak. With cedar wood, black cherry and herbs, this medium-bodied wine has a four-square style and ends with a simple cassis finish. 85-88 Pts

5,599 Views Tasted Apr 23, 201387

2011

Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estèphe)

87

Oak, black raspberries, earth and stone notes are easy to find. The tannins show some rusticity and dryness in the slightly short, but soft finish.

2,050 Views Tasted Feb 16, 2014

From the same technical team as Chateau Lynch Bages in Pauillac, blending 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc ad 2% Petit Verdot. The wine will be aged in 45% new oak. 45 hectoliters per hectare, down about 5% from 2010. Earth, licorice, blackberry, oak and mineral essences. Medium/full-bodied and fresh with black raspberry and bitter chocolate notes in the finish. 88-89 Pts

2,517 Views Tasted Apr 8, 201289

2010

Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estèphe)

91

With a nice dark ruby color, wet earth, blackberry and wood scents lead to ripe, juicy, black and red berries, spice and cassis. As it continues to develop, clearly, this is one of the top vintages of Les Ormes de Pez.

5,086 Views Tasted May 8, 2015

With lively fruit, fresh blackberry and plum, earth and spice notes, this zippy wine made from a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine offers a lot of fruit, flavor and freshness for the money.

5,637 Views Tasted Feb 6, 201390

Aromas of slate, dark berries, jam and green peppercorn lead to a full bodied, big, juicy mouthful of fresh cassis and blackberries.

8,495 Views Tasted Jan 26, 201290

Black pepper, crème de cases, stone and earthy scents open to a round textured, fresh, ripe wine that’s filled with sweet, ripe, bright, juicy, ripe black and red berries. From the same technical team that produces Chateau Lynch Bages, this is a winner in 2009!

1,624 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2018

Medium bodied with rustic tannins and scents of cassis and earth, based on this bottle, the wine is not drinking well at this point. I'd give it time before popping another bottle.

6,512 Views Tasted Oct 3, 201388

With a perfume filled with blackberry, boysenberry earth and forest floor aromas, this beefy, fresh wine will deliver a lot of bang for the buck.

6,623 Views Tasted Jan 28, 201190

2007

Château Les Ormes de Pez (St. Estèphe)

84

Fully mature, with the bricking of age, the wine is on the secondary side with its herbs earth, tobacco and red fruit character. Medium bodied, soft and just hanging to its remainder of peppery fruit, the wine requires consumption.

2,463 Views Tasted Jan 4, 2015

Light ruby in color, tobacco, earth and cigar box notes dominate the aromatics. On the palate, the wine is fully developed with a spicy, strawberry and cherry liqueur finish. This requires drinking sooner than later.

2,427 Views Tasted Oct 9, 2016

Red berries, forest floor and clay in the nose. The wine is light in color and density, but there is a charming personality and sweetness to the fruit and good length in the finish. This was surprisingly good. I’m sure that has a lot to do with the provenance, as this was just a beautiful bottle. For a Bordeaux of this quality from 1961, due to its low price, it’s worth seeking out a bottle or two.

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